Faith began to share wonderful stories, testimonies really of what she had seen over the past few years. Encouraging stories. Triumphant stories. Stories that revealed to me that I was not alone on this journey, others were also feeling the weight and strain and although many of us may have been in isolation, we were never truly alone. As Faith shared in her tender and direct way, my own faith began to be stirred up once again, I sensed that the glowing ember was once more being fanned into a bright, vibrant flame of fire. Faith was arising. Smiling and giggling together we each knew that Joy had also decided to join us, and we welcomed her sweet laughter as it began to ring out over us. It was like standing in the rushing waters of a sparking waterfall. Pure. Precious. Poignant. It flowed over us, and we allowed Joy the full freedom to soak and saturate us. It was contagious. We clasped hands and beamed at each other simply enjoying the moment we were sharing.
We were in no rush and savoured this time of togetherness. We had shared so many moments like this in the past and we were all deeply touched to simply allow Joy to fill and overflow out of us. There is such beauty in knowing and being known. I began to cry tears of joy. As I cried, Faith, Hope and Love surrounded me. My tears turned from tears of joy to tears of release as they encouraged me to cry out the pain, the disappointment, the sadness, the loneliness, and the fear that this last season had tried to entangle me with. I cried and cried; it was such a powerful time of release. The regrets and disappointments began to fall off me and it felt so good, so freeing to let them go. Faith, Hope and Love ministered to my tender heart with such gentleness and compassion as we together said goodbye to the last season. It was time.
As we did, Hope began to speak: “God of all Hope, we put our trust in You. As we spend this time with You, may Your Joy and Peace fill us and Your Hope overflow through us” (Romans 15:13). Hope began to prophesy to what had become dry bones in my life – hope deferred, promises yet to be answered, dreams yet to be fulfilled. She prophesied to those dry bones: “Hear the Word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life…. Then you will know that I AM the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:3-6). As she prophesied, my hope began to arise once more. Dreams came rushing back, long-held promises were re-awakened and feelings of anticipation and expectation in the Mighty Hand of God to be able to move on my behalf were restored and even re-storied. The hope in the “And suddenly” power of God in whom all things are possible was reactivated. Reaffirmed. Released afresh.
I heard myself begin to give a roar of praise from deep within my belly. Praise so loud, so fierce, so intense. A roar of praise so ferocious as it had been birthed out of the dark season, the valley of loneliness and despair, out of such depths of darkness and pain where I had been left waiting, waiting, waiting. A roar of praise that I was still alive. A roar of praise that the darkness had not defeated and destroyed me, but indeed had been a place of growth, grooming and the gardening of my soul, my gifts, my character. A place of becoming. A place of birthing. A place of unpacking the pain and unlocking destiny. A place of faith being evaluated, a place of hope being challenged. A place where love’s voice was being rediscovered.
Love wrapped her arms around me at that moment and held me tight. You are loved, so very loved she began to whisper. Abba Father loves you so very much. You are His Treasure, His Joy, His Delight. He has never left you in this season. He has carried you; held you and sang songs of Love over you (Zephaniah 3:18). His Love for you is all-consuming. It is greater and flows deeper than any battle you have faced in this dark season. It shines brighter and brighter. The enemy is so scared of the Brightness of the Father’s Heart of Love for you. It terrifies him. He knows he has no hold on you as you turn your face towards the radiance of Abba Father’s Love.
Turn now. Allow His Love to be the Son-Shine that you bask in. Allow it to burn brightly from the inside out. The flow of His Love. The warmth of His perfect plan and purpose for your life.
Abba Father is Love. Abba Father is patient. Abba Father is kind.
Abba Father does not envy. Abba Father does not boast.
Abba Father is not self-seeking. Abba Father is not easily angered.
Abba Father keeps no record of wrongs. Abba Father does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Abba Father always protects.
Abba Father always trusts. Abba Fathers always hopes.
Abba Father always perseveres. Abba Father never fails.
